English dictionary

asking Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the plural of asking?

The plural of asking is askings.

Q: What are the comparative and superlative forms of asking?

The comparative form is more asking and the superlative form is most asking.

/ˈæskɪŋ/

What Does Asking Mean?

As a verb, asking means present participle of ask. As an adjective, it means That asks; that expresses a question or request. As a noun, it means The act or process of posing a question or making a request.

Asking at a Glance

Part of speech	verb, adjective, noun
Pronunciation	//ˈæskɪŋ//
Syllables	1
Synonyms	request, interrogatory and interrogative
Plural	askings
Comparative / superlative	more asking, most asking

Asking Definition (Verb)

present participle of ask

Asking as an Adjective

That asks; that expresses a question or request.

Asking as a Noun

The act or process of posing a question or making a request.
His asking was greeted with silence.
A request, or petition.
The marriage banns.

Verb

To request (information, or an answer to a question).
I asked her age.
To put forward (a question) to be answered.
to ask a question
To interrogate or enquire of (a person).
I'm going to ask this lady for directions.
To request or petition; usually with for.
to ask for a second helping at dinner
To request permission to do something.
Did you ask to use the car?
To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity.
What price are you asking for the house?
To invite.
Don't ask them to the wedding.
To publish in church for marriage; said of both the banns and the persons.
To take (a person's situation) as an example.

Synonyms of Asking

request interrogatory interrogative

Asking synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Asking

No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.

Asking in a Sentence

His asking was greeted with silence.

I asked her age.

to ask a question

I'm going to ask this lady for directions.

to ask for a second helping at dinner

Did you ask to use the car?

What price are you asking for the house?

Don't ask them to the wedding.

Word Forms & Grammar

asking

asking (comparative more asking, superlative most asking)

asking (countable and uncountable, plural askings)

Words That Rhyme With Asking

masking basking multitasking tasking ask ing ask king mask hung

Origin of Asking

Origin 1: From Middle English askinge, askande, from Old English āsciende, from Proto-West Germanic *aiskōndī, present participle of Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn (“to ask”), equivalent to ask +‎ -ing.

Origin 2: From Middle English asking, askyng, askynge, from Old English āscung (“asking; question; inquiry”), from Proto-West Germanic *aiskungu, equivalent to ask +‎ -ing.

How to Pronounce Asking

Asking is pronounced //ˈæskɪŋ// and has 1 syllable.

Asking: Your Questions Answered

Is asking a verb or an adjective?

Asking is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as an adjective and a noun.

What is another word for asking?

Words with a similar meaning to asking include request, interrogatory and interrogative. See the full list of asking synonyms and antonyms.

What is the plural of asking?

The plural of asking is askings.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of asking?

The comparative form is more asking and the superlative form is most asking.